Is Mayor Bernard Wagner to Be Disqualified from Running?

An online media outlet reported today that sitting Belize City Mayor, Bernard Wagner is to be disqualified from running in the March third municipal elections. The article claims focuses on the mayor’s nomination papers which indicate that he resides in the Los Lagos community, in the Belize District. According to the story the Belize City Council Act Chapter 85 revised Edition 2011 reads that “No person shall be eligible for election as a member of the Council, or having been elected, shall sit or vote on the Council, who: has not ordinarily resided in Belize City for at least one year immediately preceding the date of the election or is not domiciled in Belize.”

Bernard Wagner

But we can confirm that on Monday, Mayor Bernard’s nomination was accepted by the Returning Officer because under Section Six of the Belize City Council Act states, “No person shall be capable of being elected as a member of the council who is not a Belizean Citizen and a voter,” the mayor is a Belizean citizen and a voter. Chapter 85 of the Laws of Belize does not make mention that the voter must be registered in Belize City. It simply says “a registered voter.” Of note, however, is that the Belmopan City Council Act and Town Council Act are very specific, saying that the candidate must be a registered voter of that city or town.  News Five also found out that reform was started to align the Belize City Council Act some years ago by the Ministry of Local Government, but it was not finalized.